Loudoun County's new radio system

[ResQguy]

So the live audio feed for Loundon Co Fire and Rescue is now working. I have also been able to monitor a couple of freq on my BC250D in conventional mode but I have not been able to trunk scan. I am way west in the county. Is there anything I can do or is my radio too old?

The BC250D will not track P25 trunking. You can conventionally scan the channels though...

 

[brownlab]

Thank you sir. I have had some luck monitoring in the conventional mode however reception of the P25 now seems to be an issue. The live feed is broadcasting some law enforcement traffic as well as fire. Thank you to whoever is providing the feed.

 

[rfburns]

Custom Band Plan

Lo Chan - 0
Hi Chan - 4095
Offset - 0
Base - 851.00625
Step - 6.25

Watch to see what VC frequencies the radio is trunking to. If the trunking plan is wrong, you'll see frequencies like 918.000, 918.23125, 918.51875, 918.2375, 918.78125 and 918.80625. Make sure you see the known VC channels showing up.

Make sure the "T" for trunking is flashing on and off.

If you have a weak signal you can play with Digital Noise threshold in the extended settings. Try settings lower than the default of 20. Also with a weak control channel you can try taking out the alternates and just leave 868.9125 as the only control channel.

The above is only for FDMA transmissions.

 

[mikev]

So the live audio feed for Loundon Co Fire and Rescue is now working. I have also been able to monitor a couple of freq on my BC250D in conventional mode but I have not been able to trunk scan. I am way west in the county. Is there anything I can do or is my radio too old?

Time for a new scanner. Pick up a new scanner that can track a P25 9600bps system and you'll be good to go, if all you care about is Fire and Rescue.

Of course, I'm assuming that Fire and Rescue won't be upgrading to newer TDMA radios for a while... because when they do upgrade, no one will hear anything with any current model scanner.

 

[w4hyi]

what the hell is up with this site it won't post my replies. THIS SITE SUCKS ASS

 

[rfburns]

what the hell is up with this site

I see two replies from you. This one and one on the 18th. Also, one original topic. Perhaps if you posted what is happening exactly, someone could help you.

 

[w4hyi]

I have posted 2 or 3 times and 1 was a Infraction I can't belive that went through

 

[rfburns]

I could use any help coping with the weak signal out here in the western part of the county.

Does anyone know the results of in building coverage tests in the western part of the county? Like in Purcellville or Round Hill. Or was the coverage testing that was done last month only done from vehicles? Does anyone have a current list of the simulcast sites that are on the air? I know someone posted a link to a county document awhile back that contained that info, but I'm unable to find the info within that document. I thought Bull Run Mtn. was a site. I can see the site, but I sure don't have much signal. I guess it is possible that if the site is in use, the pattern is directional to the north without much radiation to the west, northwest. Has anyone heard from system users about in building coverage in western places like Round Hill and Upperville?

 

[mike_s104]

what the hell is up with this site it won't post my replies. THIS SITE SUCKS ASS

I see where you posted asking for someone to help you in Sterling. You waited only about 11 hours before posting the above.

All you need to get a subscription to the RRDB and use software to do it for you (Butel, ProScan, FreeScan, or the Uniden one) Or, select a add a new system and program in the control channel(s) as listed in the RRDB. Then, you have to add groups and TGs.

 

[j2brown]

So the live audio feed for Loundon Co Fire and Rescue is now working. I have also been able to monitor a couple of freq on my BC250D in conventional mode but I have not been able to trunk scan. I am way west in the county. Is there anything I can do or is my radio too old?

We did get the new system programmed and up, so you'll hear everything that we can get.

jeff
sdg

 

[freqhopping]

Early this morning I heard TGs 2902 and 2903 being used by the FD for an operation involving Jefferson Co units and I think I might have heard Frederick ones too.

 

[rfburns]

Early this morning I heard TGs 2902 and 2903 being used by the FD

When they were setting up the patch around 0020 hours, I thought they were saying to use TAC 71. I didn't write it down so it's possible that I have remembered incorrectly.

This was for the fire off of Route 9 which had route 9 closed for many hours, the fire truck stuck requiring a chained up tow truck etc.

 

[mikev]

Now this I'm not liking... Looks like LCFR is making the move to TDMA radios, as right now 6B (TG 2873) looks to be transmitting TDMA. I realize that all it takes is one older radio to cause the system to fall back, so it's possible that 6A is likely still in the clear (and 6A is always still available through the low-band frequency)... but the fact that 6B is running in TDMA mode right now, it looks like the change to new radios is making its way through Fire and Rescue, as much as we don't want it to happen.

 

[mikev]

Last night, I saw the use of an encrypted talkgroup on the system... TG 2836. Unencrypted TG 2840 was also a common appearance, though it was TDMA. Just after 11:30p, I received this email from the Loudoun Alert email system...

A barricade situation in Aldie, Virginia has ended peacefully with the subject turning himself over to authorities.

Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 42000 block of Pyrite Court on January 2, 2010 to locate a wanted subject. The subject, Joseph S. Schrotz, 19, of Aldie, Virginia, was wanted for his involvement in the pursuit of a stolen car that occurred back on December 11th.

The subject was inside the residence with a female acquaintance. Members of the Sheriff’s Office Hostage Negotiations Unit and the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team responded to the scene. The female came out of the residence while the subject remained inside. Schrotz turned himself over to authorities around 11 p.m

 

[freqhopping]

Heard a mutual aid incident dispatched this morning. I think what I heard the dispatcher tell them to switch to was Zone 21 Tac 61. TG 2902 was then active. I'm sure about the Tac 61 part. I suppose it could've been Zone 61 too since that would match the zone arrangement.

 

[atlong]

It helps if I would have paid attention. I was scanning the new system with the old 800mhz band plan from the old system in place. User error & I'm tracking it just fine now.

Just in the past week I've noticed that when driving all the way thru Loudoun County, my PRO-106 is getting FULL bars on the control channel, but can only decode 1% of it. Haven't received barely any transmissions lately. I'm really scratching my head at this system. Is this control channel using something that our radios cannot decode?

 

[j2brown]

Heard a mutual aid incident dispatched this morning. I think what I heard the dispatcher tell them to switch to was Zone 21 Tac 61. TG 2902 was then active. I'm sure about the Tac 61 part. I suppose it could've been Zone 61 too since that would match the zone arrangement.

I'm fairly certain that you heard Tac61 in Zone 61. Here's the chart that I got during training:

Loudoun County (VA) - The RadioReference Wiki

jeff
sdg

 

[mike_s104]

I'm fairly certain that you heard Tac61 in Zone 61. Here's the chart that I got during training:

Loudoun County (VA) - The RadioReference Wiki

jeff
sdg

I know there was a patch to Jefferson Co. (established by Jefferson) for a call the morning freqhopping was saying he heard a patch too.

 

[freqhopping]

So much for interop. Aircare-1 is enroute to a wreck in Ashburn does not have a channel for Loudoun's new system. Aircare-3 is already there and will have to relay LZ info, etc.

 

[ResQguy]

Aircare-1 should have 8call or Vfire. either one would have worked.